Teacher Replaced By a Laptop And RSS Feeder

The time had finally arrived, today, we the made the tough decision to replace our teachers with laptops and RSS feeds. Sadly, the teachers understood that it had to happen.

Of course I am kidding, but imagine your students reading books you assign each day in their RSS readers or through email. There would be nothing for the district or school to buy, nothing to track, nothing to shelve, and nothing to take up space in a backpack. Just small portions of books selected by the teacher or student.

I did come across a new website that will deliver small portions of books to your email or your RSS feeder. DailyLit brings books right into your inbox in convenient small messages that take less than 5 minutes to read.

Here is a portion from 100 Ways to Succeed/Make Money by Tom Peters.

"Here's the Big Word I want us to obsess on in today's Tip: WE! (And: US!)

"Here, for example, is my re-write of the above script: "We often hear the following Objection blah blah blah. What if it weren't an objection at all? What if it provides us with an Opportunity to get our oar in about this blah blah blah [product benefit, say]..." Note, obviously, in my rewrite the three uses of "we" and "us." From long experience, I suggest that this changes the Fundamental Nature of Community-Interaction between the Instructor and the Student. Instead of being an imparter-of-knowledge to the Unwashed, I/trainer am now a fellow-toiler-in-the-trenches hunting for a fruitful solution to "our" shared dilemma. Right?

"Student and teacher are now--via Pronoun Power!--engaged in a Joint Venture toward Excellence. (Or some such.)”

Just another blow to the “walls” surrounding the “empire” that is the old model of education, which is slowly crumbling before our eyes due to forces outside of the walls.